More than 200 low-income families have been supported with the high costs of school clothing through a swap shop set up at St Columba's United Reformed Church (URC), Wolverhampton.

The congregation of Stowmarket United Reformed Church (URC) in Suffolk were joined by more than 30 quirky figures last weekend.

Organised by John Webb, an Elder of the church, Covid-19 keyworker heroes were thanked for all their working during the pandmic at a festival at the church through a series of scarecrows dressed up as NHS and postal staff, farmers, and HGV drivers to name a few.

Thirty-five charities are to benefit from the thousands of pounds raised by Fenstanton United Reformed Church member, Jean Ding.

During the pandemic and due to lockdown restrictions, Jean was forced to move her stall from the church to outside her home, in Cambridgeshire.

Special honours were bestowed on Gillian Phillips and the Revd David Marshall-Jones on 18 September when the United Reformed Church Guide and Scout Fellowship (URCGSF) made them life Presidents.

The service, held at Caterham URC, also marked David’s retirement as National Scout Chaplain – a position he has served for the past 20 years – and Chair of URCGSF and volunteer Manager of the URCGSF National Scout Active Support Unit.

David has served the United Reformed Church (URC) in variety of roles: from serving in local churches, Synod, to supporting denomination-wide children’s and youth work.